During these last (hot!) weeks of summer, parents are encouraged to help keep their children hydrated by sending them with reusable water bottles. PTA News ​SweetFrog Restaurant Night

Join Westowne friends for self-serve frozen yogurt at the Catonsville sweetFrog on Thursday, September 10th. Twenty percent of Westowne's purchases will be donated to our PTA. Bring the flyer you received in your children's folders or just mention Westowne at the register. Invite family and friends! Keep an eye out for other upcoming restaurant nights. We aim to run one per month as both a source of revenue for the PTA and a social event.​Membership

Now's the time to join the PTA or renew your annual membership. Not everyone needs to be a board member or run an event, but every member helps make Westowne great.﻿We encourage all adults in your household to join, as well as faculty, staff, grandparents, and community members. Send in the membership form with your $6. Thank you!Recycling Center

The PTA proudly supports Westowne as a Maryland certified Green School. Our recycling center is located in front of the cafeteria. Some items actually raise funds for the school. Accepted items include:

glue sticks and glue bottles

batteries

VCR and DVD tapes and cases

gift cards

juice pouches and chip bags (bin may be found in the cafe)

crayons

pens and markers (but not wooden pencils)

plastic bags

dental floss containers, toothbrushes, and toothpaste tubes

ink cartridges

Parents can bring items to school functions or drop by--just sign in at the office during school hours.

Go Fund the PTA

Every year, your PTA raises approximately $35,000 to support educational enrichment at Westowne. Our community is the primary funding source. We ask you to support commercial fundraisers when needed, but we only earn 10% to 30% with sales like baked goods or wrapping paper. Instead, we are asking Westowne families to make an annual contribution.

Our goal is to raise $5000 in direct donations through this year's Go Fund the PTA campaign. We need 50 families to do this with a one-time $100 donation or as a recurring donation of $10 a month. That's only 33 cents per day. See our website for details and updates on reaching that goal. Thank you for your support!

Bonus Box Tops

Are you feeling lucky? Box Tops for Education regularly offers online sweepstakes, as well as opportunities to earn bonus Box Tops with your purchases. The current contest will award five schools 25,000 Box Tops. You may enter daily through September 10th.

​​Corporate Sponsors

We'd like to thank the following businesses for supporting the Westowne community this year:Platinum Level PTA Sponsors

If your company recognizes the importance of financially supporting education with the added benefit of advertisement, let us know. Corporate sponsors are found on our website, as well as featured monthly in our newsletter and blog.

School News ​ Volunteer Training Online

Westowne welcomes parents' and caregivers' help in the classrooms, chaperoning field trips, or volunteering for events. All volunteers need to complete an application and training. BCPS offers an online format to make the process easier and faster for many people. Once complete, turn in the documents in the school office.

Back to School Nights

Join us for video presentations from BCPS and the principal, as well as the general membership meeting and budget vote for the PTA. Afterward, come to the cafe for refreshments, join the PTA, and buy spirit wear.

Tuesday, September 8th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

For 3rd to 5th grade parents and caregivers

5th grade parents, come to the cafe to meet up with the PTA's 5th Grade Committee. Pitch in to help with fundraising and event planning for your child's last year at Westowne.

Drop Off Changes

Dear walkers and car riders, Mr. Palmer is making some adjustments to drop off procedures to try to accommodate the crowds and the construction.

Students will be entering the building through the main entrance rather than the side door. Please walk inside the yellow line on the sidewalk so that the buses have enough room to pass safely. Space is tight and awkward during this time of transition. Keep up the flexibility and keep up the great work helping each other. Thanks!

Drama Club

New to Westowne this year, Mrs. Ingle and Mr. Willig are starting a drama club for 3rd - 5th graders. Check out their website for more information, including a link to sign up for an audition on September 15th or 16th.

Westowne is looking forward to a musical The Wizard of Oz in January!

School Closings

The BCPS calendar is available online. School is closed this month on the following days:

Monday, September 7th

Monday, September 14th

Wednesday, September 23rd​​

Community News ​ Free Park Passes

The National Park Service's 100th anniversary is being celebrated in 2016, and the party starts early for families with kids now in fourth grade. Every Kid in a Park grants passes for free admission for one’s family—or an entire car-full at locations that charge by the car—to all U.S. national parks, forests, monuments, and wildlife refuges. Fourth graders, their parents, or their teachers can sign kids up for the passes online.